PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Member of Parliament Solange Ludmila Duncan has asked the Minister of Health, Social Development & Labor (VSA) about his Ministry’s capacity and intention to carry out a Poverty line study this year.
The presentation made on Tuesday 24th April, 2020 by the Minister of Finance on the St. Maarten Stimulus and Relief Plan (SSRP), in which the Minister of VSA was present, provided some insight into the plans of the Government to assist vulnerable groups in the community in the form of income and payroll support and food vouchers. The SSRP provides assistance to persons who are unemployed, and sole proprietors without income, in the form of NAF. 1,150.00 for the months of April, May and June 2020.
“While I appreciate the efforts of both Ministries to provide assistance and support in the form of food and direct income support, to those that are living at or below poverty levels, I think it is important to understand all of the needs of the most vulnerable not only as it concerns food but access to healthcare, housing, rent and utilities. Furthermore, the basket of goods decree should also be adapted immediately and there should be regular controls at supermarkets as food costs continue to rise,” stated the MP.
In 2019, The University of St. Martin (USM) in collaboration with the St. Maarten Anti-Poverty Platform submitted a proposal entitled “Minimum Reference Budgets for Saint Martin: A Research Proposal”, to the then Council of Ministers. The project would determine the minimum amount of income a household could survive upon.
In her letter to the Minister, MP Duncan suggested that the Ministry of VSA review the proposal made, contact the relevant stakeholders and accelerate the process to conduct a Poverty line study. Duncan also queried whether the Ministry currently has a task force or committee established regarding poverty measurement.
Duncan concluded, “Government has a responsibility to function in a proactive manner and create policies and legislation based on solid research and data. If we don’t understand who and what we are, we cannot map out a strategic route forward. I believe now more than ever that this poverty line study must take place. As a country we need to decide how well we want our people to live post-Covid 19.”
